The set up is commonly available in bars with a traditionally black clientle, like Bullet's as you saw, or the Sandpiper on Louisiana for example. It's not a carafe of liquor but a pint bottle, plus your mixers and some ice.

My experience with set ups as a bartender in Jackson, Miss., was this: the bar sold only beer. A set up was when a customer brought in a bottle of liquor and we'd set him or her up with the mixer of choice. So, for example, a glass of ice and a glass of coca-cola. This is the only place I've encountered the term. Not sure if this is the situation at Bullet's (never been), and I would be surprised if there is a New Orleans bar that sells beer but not liquor. I don't know that there is a differentiation between the two on our liquor licenses. For what it's worth, of course.

We have the same thing in Texas, where places without liquor licenses, that is only those that serve beer or wine, serve mixers for people who bring in liquor. It'ds not as prevelant as it was. In Texas, liquor wasn't served in bars and restaurants until the late sixties, when a law called "liquor by the drink" was enacted. Until then, set ups was the only way to go.

This is common at many trendy bars now. Generally it comes with preferred seating area and a hefty price tag, but can be well worth it if you have a large group. Most places I've been to that offer this are not establishments that allow you to bring in your own liquor.

The set up isn't really the same as bottle service. It's cheaper than buying the equivalent amount of cocktails individually, you get a smaller bottle of liquor than with bottle service, and the main idea is simply to save the busy waitress and bartender time by having you mix and serve your own drinks. Also with the set up you would tip separately, whereas bottle service usually includes the price of tip.

Yeah, bottle service and selling set ups are at completely different ends of the spectrum. Setups are still currently common in two types of places in addition to those already mentioned as well. "After Hours" clubs in places where its illegal to sell alcohol after say 2 AM, and they are common in strip clubs in areas where local government has banned the sale of alcohol anywhere where topless dancers are present.

They sell it to you. So for example, you would order a 7 & 7 set up, and you'd get a pint of Seagram's 7, with a couple bottles of 7 Up, an ice bucket and some plastic cups. It would cost like $25-$30, and you'd tip $7-$10. At least, that's been my experience. I'm sure it varies by bar.

Set ups are fairly common at parties/charity dances, etc. held in venues w/no liquor license....you buy an entry ticket to a BYOB dance, and the venue sells set-ups to make a few more bucks. You generally get Ice, mixers of choice, plastic cups, cocktail napkins. These events sometimes have a cash bar w/donated liquor, but no table service. So you can BOYB, buy a set up, and save your crew the hassle of waiting at the bar.

Funny how different the terminology is from Texas to Louisiana. Here (Texas), a set-up is basically just a bucket of ice, some glasses, and some mixers - BYOB. Then again, I had never heard the term "package store" until I overheard a couple of Louisiana tourists asking a clerk at the gas station where the nearest one was.